Hard To Love by Sabrina Ross Read Free Book Online Page B

to make a move but he didn’t and when
I looked over at the house next to where we were standing, I
realized it was my mother’s. My heart sank a little and I was
disappointed that this was ending already. When I looked back at
him he looked disappointed as well. “Thank you for walking me
home.” This side of Mason was more tolerable.
“My pleasure, Lauren,” he said, softly. Then came that smile
again, and I felt the breath in my throat come to a complete halt.
He stood there, eyes locked on mine, and for a split second I felt as
though he was going to lean down kiss me. “I’ll watch you in.” He
turned his head away slightly.
With a nod I walked past him. “Night.” I looked back.
He smiled and nodded. “Night.”
Once in the house I locked the door, peeking out the window to
see if he had gone. He stood there a moment. Then when I turned
off the patio light, he started to walk away. My heart was racing
and I hadn’t noticed until I was alone.

CHAPTER FOUR
    The next morning I woke up feeling horrible, although thankful
that there were no visits to the porcelain god in the middle of the
night. Rolling over to the edge of my bed, I dragged my legs over
the side and sat a moment. With my head in my hands I breathed
slowly before standing. I dragged the brush through the tangled
mess on my head and then tied my hair up in a bun. I stood in front
of my closet and chose some clothes to throw on. I was expecting
Cassie to show up at some point today.
    My mom was happy that I joined her for breakfast. It had been a
few days, with Cassie dropping by and all, since Mom and I had
had more than a moment to talk.
    “Morning
,” she said with a big smile. “I made some bacon. Did
you want some fresh eggs as well?”
“Sure,” I replied, taking a seat after pouring a mug of coffee.
“How was your night? I heard you come in late last night,” she
asked.
“It—was fun,” I said with a shrug. “Forgot what the night life
was like out here.”
“Who was the boy who walked you home?” she asked,
smirking. Of course that was what my mother noticed.
“Were you spying?” I scoffed, turning to look at her. She stood
at the stove, scrambling the eggs.
“No, I heard voices outside my window and got up to check,”
she said nonchalantly.
“Oh.” I sat back in the chair. “It was Mason Foster,” I said,
letting out a long sigh.
“Mason Foster, really?” she replied, a bit of surprise in her tone.
“Yeah, turns out he is Cassie’s cousin.”
“Oh, right. I always forget that.” She chuckled.
“So you know Mason, then?” I asked, resting my elbows on the
table.
“Well, I don’t know him well, just know of him,” she replied. “I
knew his mother.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
She walked over to me, with the pan in her hand, scooping the
eggs onto my plate. Then she turned on the water to scrub the pan.
“Well—I’ve heard that he has a way with the ladies.” She
chuckled. “He has a bit of a reputation, you know.”
“I sort of got that vibe from him,” I replied.
“His mother isn’t too pleased with his playboy attitude, though.
I always told her it will take the right woman to change him.” She
giggled again.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just something I remembered.” She sighed.
“You can’t say that and not elaborate, Mom. Come on. Tell
me,” I demanded.
She sat across from me, pouring a mug of coffee. I waited in
anticipation. “One of the ladies at the country club found him
indisposed with the coat check girl. His mother practically pulled
him out of the building by his ear.” She shook her head, laughing.
“I’m sure he got a good tongue lashing from her that night because
he never stepped out of line again.”
“When was this?”
“I think it was that summer you came home.” She spooned eggs
into her mouth.
“The time that I brought Matt,” I asked.
“Yes, that was the year,” she said. I stared off, dazed. “Eat,
dear, before it